How To Get There : Nay Pyi Taw (pronounced ‘Naypiddaw’), means ‘Abode of Kings’, is the administrative capital of the Union of Myanmar. Naypyitaw have been founded on a green field site some 3 kilometres west of Pyinmana. Naypyidaw is located between the Bago Yoma and Shan Yoma mountain ranges. Centrally located, it is 376 km from Yangon and 274 km from Mandalay, being easily accessible from all parts of the Union. The 24th and 25th ASEAN Summit as well as the Ninth East Asia Summit were held in Naypyidaw. It was also one of the host cities for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

PLACES TO VISIT

NATIONAL MUSUEM

National Museum (Naypyitaw) is Located on Yaza Thingaha road, near the Kumudra circle, Ottarathiri township. Total plot area of National Museum (Naypyitaw) is 14.08 Hectare. The National Museum (Naypyitaw) has five main buildings such as A, B, C, D and E. In the building A, Mini Theatre, VIP holding rooms, President’s Gifts Exhibition Room and Public area are included. The rest buildings are the display area. In building B, the display areas are divided into Primate and Fossil Exhibition Room, Prehistoric Period Exhibition Room, Proto historic Period Exhibition Room, Historic Period (11th – 14th Century AD ) Exhibition Room, Myanmar Art Gallery and Myanmar Performing Art Exhibition Room.

In the building C, D, E are still displayed about the history and the cultural heritage of Myanmar to be a national level museum.

WATER FOUNTAIN & GOLF COURSE

Water Fountain Garden is with an eyes catching steel structure arch-way entrance. It has a main pond with three fountains inside and 11 small ponds with 13 different fountains and other activities inside.

Royal Myanmar Golf Course has 18 holes and the shapes and roll of the terrain were accentuated in the design phase to highlight the sites natural attributes.

DEFENCE SERVICES MUSEUM

The Defence Services Museum (Naypyidaw) in Zeyathiri Township is on an area of 603.68 acres. It is opened to enable the youth and people to learn the independence struggles, historic battles and actions of the Armed Forces since its birth in 1945 till now, and to imbue the spirit to safeguard the independence.

There are six booths of the Armed Force, three booths of the Navy and three booths of the Air, and one Guest Lounge each of the Armed Force, Navy and Air Force as well as corridors and rest halls with restaurants and souvenir shops.

In the museum, there can be seen the royal items used by ancient Myanmar kings, ancient and present time Myanmar military equipment, the items used by patriotic leaders in their independence struggles , furniture used by the Thirty Comrades while taking an oath of allegiance by drinking blood, the items used by patriotic leaders in their independence struggles, mementoes from foreign countries, the ancient Myanmar heroes’ statues, international relations with foreign countries, documentary photos and pictures and facts about the Tatmadaw from its birth to the present time and Military Archive.

PLANETARIUM

For anyone interested in astronomy the planetarium provides a wealth of knowledge about the solar system and the wonders of the universe. On entering the planetarium, visitor’s attention is drawn to the exhibits of planets, the moon and the earth and other wonders of the universe. There area number of audio visual displays. The planetarium is open daily from 10am to 4pm, except Mondays.

NATIONAL LANDMARK GARDEN

The NationalLandmarkGarden is a miniature model of the states and regions of Myanmar, situated on a 400 acre plot near Thaik chaung Village in Zeyathiri Township. The garden showcases scaled-down versions of the country’s most famous attractions, such as the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Ngapali Beach in Rakhine State and Inlay Lake in Shan State. It is a great place to visit to learn Myanmar national races’ cultural heritages, customs, and traditions.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN

The Zoological Garden in Nay Pyi Taw is the biggest zoological garden of its kind in Myanmar. Located just off the old Yangon-Mandalay Highway, the zoo covers about 500 acres and is home to 430 animals, representing 81 species. As well as the animal native to Myanmar there are exotic foreign animals such as penguins and kangaroos, and one of the most popular attractions is a white tiger. There is a daily show with performing elephants and elephant rides are available.

NAY PYI TAW

Nay Pyi Taw is strategically located in central Myanmar, 376 km from Yangon and 274 km from Man- dalay, easily accessible from both major cities. It is the third largest city in Myanmar and fascinatingly known to be one of the 10 fastest growing cities in the world. Major attractions in Nay Pyi Taw include Uppatasanti Pagoda, the Gem Museum, Water Fountain Garden, the National Landmark Garden, Zoological Garden, Safari Park, National Museum, National Archive and National Herbal Park.

UPPATASANTI PAGODA

Uppatasanti Pagoda is a renowned landmark of Nay Pyi Taw city. The pagoda stands 100 m high is almost exact replica of Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon and houses a Buddha tooth relic from China. At the pagoda, Buddha’s path to the achievement of Nirvana is depicted in majestic statues. It was featured Maha Hsutaungpyae Buddha image, four jade Buddha images in the hollow cave, a 33 m high flagpole, Bo tree garden, Marlini Mangala Lake, and a museum.

WHITE ELEPHANTS HOUSE

At the foot of the Uppatasanti Pagoda, there is a park home to several white elephants in Nay Pyi Taw. Myanmar people believe bring with them Luck, peace and prosperity to their life. The elephant house has been built in the traditional Myanmar architectural style and features grassland and viewing areas. It also contains two pools with fountains, two dams, a bathing pond with a fountain, a sugarcane plantation, a medical centre and a feed store.

THATTA THATTAHA MAHA BAWDI PAGODA

The replica of Buddha Gaya is the 162 ft high Thatta Thattaha Maha Bawdi Pagoda was built on the Udayayanthi Hill lock in Pohbbathiri Township. Among the variety of places to visit in the vast area of the city just some 10 to 20 minutes’ drive from Nay Pyi Taw are the old towns of Pyinmana and Leway, which offer a wealth of treasures to explore – bustling markets, pagodas and beautiful teak monasteries.